Governor Edward G. Rendell Rejoins Ballard Spahr

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Edward G. Rendell, who left elected office last week after serving two terms as Governor of Pennsylvania, will rejoin Ballard Spahr as a partner in the Philadelphia office, firm Chair Arthur Makadon announced today. Gov. Rendell is a former Mayor of Philadelphia, City District Attorney, and Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

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"It is an honor to announce Ed's return," Mr. Makadon said. "He is the rare person who has prominence and the insight and wisdom we value so highly. The traits that made Ed such an effective leader in the public sector – grit, intellect, and personal magnetism – will make him just as effective in the private sector representing clients of the firm and attracting new clients. Beyond that, he brings a wealth of substantive experience in areas that are very much in the forefront nationally and in which we have strong national practices: P3/Infrastructure, Energy, Environmental, Health Care, and Higher Education. Both the Governor and the firm see this as an extraordinary opportunity."

"On a personal level, I am delighted to have him back," Mr. Makadon said. "He is a great friend and an endearing colleague."

Gov. Rendell said he was excited about returning to Ballard Spahr, where he was a partner before being elected Governor. "Ballard was always one of the best law firms in Philadelphia and its profile and strength as a national firm are greater than ever before. The firm had seven offices when I left in 2003. It now has 13. This is a great time to be coming back and I look forward to contributing to the firm's growth and stature."

Gov. Rendell, whose term ended January 18, is widely recognized as an adept policymaker, guiding the City and Commonwealth through unprecedented fiscal distress, and among the most effective chief executives in Commonwealth history.

As a two-term Mayor of Philadelphia (1992-2000), Gov. Rendell drew national attention eliminating a huge deficit, balancing the City budget, and generating five consecutive budget surpluses. He truly was "America's Mayor." The renaissance of the city – a city that was slipping badly – is largely attributed to the determination, inspiration, and energy of Mr. Rendell. No one familiar with Philadelphia when he took office in January 1992 would fail to understand how much his efforts changed the city, not only the physical improvements that transformed it into a cultural, dining, and sports mecca attracting prominent developers and new residents of all ages, but also its psyche. Philadelphians now take pride in the same city for which they once apologized.

As Governor of Pennsylvania (2003-2011), he drew praise for policymaking that dramatically improved education in the Commonwealth and helped spur economic development. Under Gov. Rendell's leadership, classrooms in the Commonwealth were modernized and test scores improved. The Governor spearheaded initiatives to encourage the use of alternative and renewable energy. A passionate advocate for accessible and affordable quality health care, Gov. Rendell created the Governor's Office of Health Care Reform as well as the widely touted "Prescription for Pennsylvania," which outlined strategies for containing costs while improving care.

But Gov. Rendell may be best known for his tireless and effective work with economic development. During his tenure, billions were directed to struggling cities and towns in Pennsylvania. He developed a comprehensive economic development plan, making targeted and effective investments to help businesses grow and thrive. Gov. Rendell, along with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, founded and co-chairs Building America's Future, a national infrastructure-investment coalition.

Gov. Rendell, an Army veteran, graduated from Villanova University School of Law in 1968 and entered the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, rising to chief of the Homicide Unit. In 1977, he made a successful run for District Attorney and in 1981 was elected to a second term. As D.A., he was credited with reforming management of the Office and taking a hard-nosed attitude on street crime.

Gov. Rendell has taught government and politics courses at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his B.A. He is expected to continue that relationship when he returns to Ballard Spahr, as well as his commitment to serving on nonprofit boards, including Building America's Future.

Gov. Rendell is married to the Honorable Marjorie O. Rendell, a federal judge on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

About Ballard Spahr

Ballard Spahr LLP, a national firm with more than 475 lawyers in 13 offices in the United States, provides a range of services in litigation, business and finance, real estate, intellectual property, and public finance. Our clients include Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, life sciences and technology companies, health systems, investors and developers, government agencies and sponsored enterprises, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations. The firm combines a national scope of practice with strong regional market knowledge. For more information, please visit www.ballardspahr.com.

SOURCE Ballard Spahr LLP